Who Qualifies for the First U.S. Guaranteed Income Program Offering $500 a Month?
The local Board of Commissioners approved an extra $7.5 million in the county’s 2026 budget to continue the program, after a successful trial run.
The original pilot was funded by $42 million in federal pandemic aid.
What is the Guaranteed Income Program?
The Guaranteed Income Program is a government program that gives people direct cash payments every month. These payments are usually given to families or individuals with low or middle incomes.
The money, which can be $500 or $1,000 per month, does not come with any restrictions; people do not have to meet work requirements or other conditions to receive it.
Who Can Get the Money?
While the details for the next round of payments will be decided later, the pilot program focused on residents of Cook County who have low or moderate incomes.
The program was continued because a survey showed it was very successful:
- 75% of people who got the payments felt more stable financially.
- 94% used the money to deal with unexpected financial problems.
- Most participants felt their mental health improved and their stress levels dropped.
- People mainly spent the funds on important things like food, rent, utilities, and transportation.
How Much is Provided?
The Cook County Board approved $7.5 million in its future budget to keep funding the program.
Previously, 3,250 households received $500 every month with no strings attached.
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